Crystallography, magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect in Gd-4(BixSb1-x)(3) alloys

A study of magnetic and thermal properties has been carried out on the allo ys from the Gd-4(BixSb1-x)(3) series with x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1. Al l of the alloys are ferromagnetic below their respective Curie temperatures which vary from 266 K for x = 0 to 332 K for x = 1.0. The magnetocaloric e ffect calculated from the temperature and magnetic field dependencies of th e magnetization and heat capacity is moderate when compared to that of othe r materials, which order in the same temperature range. Both the magnetic o rdering and the magnetocaloric effect peak temperatures increase nearly lin early with the increasing Bi content. Experimental magnetocaloric effect da ta obtained from two different measurement techniques are in excellent agre ement. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.